Kubernetes Versus Docker Swarm: Which One to Use?

Feb 25, 2019

Share

Kubernetes and Docker Stream dominate the rapidly evolving container orchestration market, but which one should you choose?

Today, app development is moving fast and only the most agile of businesses will be able to keep up. As the focus moves towards speed and innovation, attention is shifting increasingly towards container orchestration. Its goal is to manage the life-cycles of containers in a dynamic environment. It automates many key tasks and is a key tool in accelerating the path to digital innovations.

However, with so many options available, navigating this arena can be confusing.

Two of the leading names in this area are Kubernetes and Docker Swarm. Both provide excellent functionality and usability, and each has a loyal base of dedicated fans, but there are important differences between the two that can help you decide which one to use.

Kubernetes

Harnessing years of experience at Google, Kubernetes is an open source platform for container deployment operations, automation and scaling across clusters of hosts. It’s a production-ready enterprise level modular platform, ideal for deployment in any architecture. Kubernetes works by distributing the load across different containers. It places containers into groups, naming them as logical units and mitigating the problems that arise with running applications in public and private clouds. The key selling points with Kubernetes are easy scalability, portability across environments and flexibility.

Docker Swarm

First things first – we need to remember the difference between Docker and Docker Swarm. While Docker is just a containerization platform, Docker Swarm (more commonly known as Swarm) is an open source container orchestration platform. As Docker’s very own container’s orchestration, this platform is ideal for anyone already working with containers. Any software or services that are already run on Docker will also work well on Swarm. Swarm focuses on offering a powerful but simple and accessible solution. It is designed to be easy to work and operate for users and offer a resilient single point of failure architecture. As the name suggests, Swarm takes a collection of Docker hosts and turns them into a single host or a swarm. It is accessible, intuitive and easy to use. It is a valuable tool for people who are introducing themselves to the orchestration environment or have more than one cloud platform.

Both Kubernetes and Docker Swarm are designed to do the same job, but both work in slightly different ways. The best way to compare them is to look side by side and some of their functions and features.

Getting started

Installing Docker Swarm couldn’t be easier. All you need is two commands – one from the worker’s end and another from the manager’s and you are good to go. From there you are ready to head off and begin your deployment. Kubernetes is much more complicated. You first need to bring up your cluster, then define an environment and a pod before bringing up your dashboard. Only then can the cluster be used.

Dashboard

This is one area where Kubernetes wins hands down – mostly because it has one. Once you’ve started, you have a clear dashboard containing all the key information you need. Docker Swarm, on the other hand, has nothing. There is no dashboard.

Scalability

Both platforms are strong in terms of scalability. The one you prefer will depend on where your priorities lie. Docker Swarm goes for speed while Kubernetes offers an all in one solution. Kubernetes provides stronger guarantees about cluster state and a unified set of APIs.

High availability

Both offer high availability in slightly different ways. Kubernetes has pods distributed among nodes which provide good tolerance to application failure. Kubernetes can detect unhealthy pods and get rid of them ensuring the delivery of high availability. With Swarm, its services can be replicated among its nodes. Swarm manager nodes take responsibility for the entire cluster and handle all the node resources.

Auto-scaling

Kubernetes wins this category. Its nodes are intelligent enough to analyze your load and scale up or down depending on your requirements. It’s intelligent enough to analyze loads and scale up or down as it needs to. Docker Swarm, in contrast, tends to crumble under pressure.

Balancing

Here, though Kubernetes has ground to make up. While balancing settings often have to be adjusted by hand, Docker offers auto-balancing. Because it has no concept of pods all the containers can easily discover each other with an IP address. As long as the nodes are connected to the cluster this will happen automatically.

Conclusion

At the risk of sitting on the fence, both offer plenty of functionality. They perform most of the same jobs but differ slightly in how they deliver them. The biggest difference, though, comes in complexity. Kubernetes is more complicated and will require a certain level of training. It is perhaps more suitable for high-performance applications. Docker is a little simpler and will be extremely popular among developers looking for speed of application and to get innovations to market more quickly.

Company

Connect With Us

24/7 Toll Free

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn MoreACCEPT

Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.